Let’s Get Started

See firsthand how the Yext Knowledge Engine can help you better manage your digital knowledge and attract more customers.

What you’ll get with a live demo:

See a walk-through of the Yext platform

Control all the facts about your business in one place

Attract more customers online

Learn why thousands of leading brands use Yext to take control of their digital knowledge.

Tell us about yourself:

First NameRequired

Last NameRequired

Business EmailRequired

Business PhoneRequired

Business NameRequired

By checking this box, you agree to receive emails (including occasional newsletters) from Yext and its affiliates regarding Yext and Yext’s products, services, special events and offers, surveys, and updates. You can withdraw your consent at any time. Please refer to Yext’s privacy policy (including for the list of relevant Yext affiliates) or contact Yext for more details.

By submitting this form, you are confirming you have read and agreeto our our PrivacyPolicy.

Someone will be in touch shortly to find a time that works for you.

What you’ll get with a live demo:

See a walk-through of the Yext platform

Control all the facts about your business in one place

Attract more customers online

Learn why thousands of leading brands use Yext to take control of their digital knowledge.

By now you’ve noticed that Google has removed ads from its “right rail” on desktop search. Months in the rollout, this change to Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP) has significant implications, in that now more than ever, ranking in the local pack is critical for businesses.

Although Google has removed ads from the “right rail”, additional ads are being moved in-line with the search results. Users should regularly expect to see 3-4 ad blocks at the top of the page and 3-4 ad blocks at the bottom.

Google confirmed that they are trying to provide a more consistent desktop search experience to mobile/tablet in order to maximize the effectiveness of its desktop ads.

“Ultimately, we are making this update to improve the user experience on Google Search and to make that experience consistent across desktop, tablet and mobile,” Matt Lawson, Director of Performance Ads Marketing at Google, said in a recent column.

But as Google Ads move in-line with organic search results, the importance of appearing in local pack results becomes critically important for businesses. Here’s why:

Not surprisingly, the study showed that users tend to focus their attention in three areas:

Near the top of the page,

Local search results,

and the first organic search result.

In terms of where users click on Google’s SERP, several studies have concluded that organic search listings receive more than 90% of the clicks with users favoring local search results the most.

The key takeaway is that Google’s new Desktop SERP layout – on most screen resolutions – pushes organic search results well BELOW the the visible page fold, leaving only the Ad blocks and local pack visible to the user.

As a baseline, if we use a desktop monitor (with a resolution 1920 x 1200), here’s approximately what users will now see in the new SERP layout.

The problem with organic results positioning is further exacerbated on retina laptop displays:

Conclusion: In order to maintain relevancy in local search, businesses need to focus on appearing in local pack results.